Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Manipur goes to polls

It’s 4.30 am on 28th February, 2022. The first streaks of rose and gold light up the night sky, and the birds start chirping. Being on the country’s eastern border with Myanmar, dawn comes here early. The keenly-anticipated polling day is here, after a toughly-fought campaign, and 38 of the 60 constituencies will go to the polls today, in the 1st Phase, including Imphal, the capital of the state.
Though the spring has come in early, it’s still a bit chilly and very breezy outdoors, and queues have formed outside polling stations, even before they open at 7 am. Colorful Manipuri traditional shawls are sported by the women, some of whom have even brought their infants along, bundled up.


Historically, Manipur has always witnessed high turnouts - the previous assembly elections in Manipur witnessed a huge 86% turnout. Today is no different. As the day wears on, long queues start building at the polling stations, with people quietly waiting for their turn to vote. There is no “urban apathy” phenomenon here!

Political parties have set up their assistance stalls near the polling stations, and enthusiastic party workers can be seen, helping voters. A common feature across the stalls is the traditional offering to God, for auspicious results – a lamp, incense, lotus flowers, plantain, rice and fruits

The Election Commission, too has set up Voter Assistance Booths, with chairs and a table, and staff to help voters.

There is even a transgender help facility, offered by an NGO, mounted on a van

Like elsewhere in the country, Manipur, too has witnessed a demographic change, and a huge number of voters are youngsters, who are voting for the first time.

The hardy senior citizens of the state, too , are not lacking in their enthusiasm for voting, despite the earlier-than-expected warming of temperatures this spring,

With voting taking the centre-stage, every other activity – shops, offices, factories – is on hold, and security forces can be seen on every street corner. With a long history of militancy and underground outfits, the polling stations are manned by camouflage-wearing personnel armed with automatic weapons, in heavily sandbagged posts.

The Chief Election Officer, and his team have spared no efforts to facilitate and encourage turn-out, roping in many agencies and organisations, including the Regional Outreach Bureau  and the PIB of the I&B Ministry. The ROB used the medium of folk dance and drama to attract crowds to the Election Commission’s voter education and ground interaction, with hundreds of programmes lined up all over the State.

For days before D-day, polling officials have trekked through jungles and up mountains, carrying equipment to set up polling stations in remote hill villages – 92 percent of the land area of Manipur is hilly

Today, the enthusiasm is infectious, and all elements of the elaborate run-up have come together. Truly, for a land having many festivals, this too is an important festival – the festival of democracy, which, by seeking the people’s mandate, renews itself every five years.

The sun sets early here, and by 4 pm, voting draws to a close. There is a visible air of relaxation and relief amongst the polling staff and the security personnel. The long twilight starts, and lights begin to come on, and twinkle in the hills and along the bowl-like valley of Manipur. The people have spoken once again, and have chosen their representatives for the next five years.
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B.Narayanan / Deepak Sharma
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